Adirondack Phantoms coach Terry Murray was 20 years old and in his first season of pro hockey when he played for the Providence Reds in 1970-71.

Adirondack Phantoms coach Terry Murray was 20 years old and in his first season of pro hockey when he played for the Providence Reds in 1970-71.

Murray has fond memories of that season, which launched an 11-year playing career that included 302 NHL games and back-to-back Eddie Shore Awards as the AHL’s top defenseman in 1977-78 and ’78-’79.

“We had a lot of fun in the city. The fans were tremendous,” said Murray, who went on to spend 14 seasons as an NHL head coach in Washington, Philadelphia, Florida and Los Angeles.

“We used to go to the First and Last Chance Café over in Pawtucket. Aldi Goyette was the owner. To be able to have a place where everybody hung out, with good people around, have a couple of beers and some good food, that was a big part of the culture that hockey players always took part in,” Murray said after Sunday’s game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

As a rookie on a veteran-laden team, Murray said, “You had a lot of role models, quality people who would help you. They would talk you through things and help you grow and figure out the game a little faster.

The Reds, coached by Larry Wilson, lost more games than they won that season but edged the Montreal Voyageurs for first place in the Eastern Division, and advanced to the Calder Cup finals, where they were swept by Springfield, which was coached by Johnny Wilson, Larry’s brother.

“Larry helped influence the Philadelphia Flyers to sign me (in 1975). I became part of the Flyer organization and here I am still with them after all these years. He was a good coach. He was patient. We were just below .500 but we got ourselves to the finals. That was a reflection of how he handled and dealt with us,” Murray said.

“That was fun. I remember a lot of great things about Providence. And you know what? It feels like it was two months ago. The time’s gone by very quickly.”

P-Bruins in 2nd place

The Providence Bruins have five wins and a shootout loss in their last six games and have moved up to second place in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the 15-team Eastern Conference. Their shootout win on Sunday against Adirondack capped a 3-0 weekend.

“I thought we played real well in terms of puck possession and effort and forecheck. We created a lot,” coach Bruce “Butch” Cassidy said after Sunday’s game. “We showed good resilence to come back and get the win” after giving up a late goal that forced overtime.

Even playing their third game in three days on Sunday, the P-Bruins had plenty of legs.

“We do use four lines a lot. We rely on all 12 forwards. If you’re not on the power play, you’re on the penalty-kill. There’s very few guys who don’t do one or the other. Bobby (Robins) might be the only guy. Same with the D. We’re not a one-line-dominant team.”

The work the P-Bruins do during the week has paid off, Cassidy said. “We’re a good-conditioned hockey club. Boston demands that, and so do we.”

MacKinnon warms up

Fourth-line center Kyle MacKinnon didn’t have a goal in his first 16 games going into Friday night, but broke out with two against Manchester, then potted the overtime winner on Sunday against Adirondack.

“He got 14 last year, a quiet 14. That’s pretty good in this league for a first-year player,” Cassidy said of the versatile Providence College graduate.

“We do expect him to chip in ’cause we know he can do it. He’s starting to show it now. Earlier this year he had as many chances as anybody, but now they’re starting to go in for him.”

Knight returns

Jared Knight, who hasn’t played in two months because of a hamstring pull, is back on the ice. He skated last week, but was not yet ready to practice with the team. The rookie winger has played in only two games, the last on Oct. 13.